Country Energy Fest

CANCELED

(Carrollton, OH) — The
Country Energy Fest Committee has canceled the 2016 Country Energy Fest and Rib
Burn Off scheduled for June 3 & 4. Contract negotiations with a country
entertainer were halted by the Carroll County Agricultural Society (fairboard)
in December when the structural integrity of the grandstand was questioned.

“Our
main concern is our patrons. We cannot have a crowd in the grandstand if it is
unsafe,” said Amy Rutledge, Country Energy Fest committee member. “We took a
step back, reworked our festival plan to exclude use of the grandstand and
created a festival budget that better suited the needs of the fairboard.”

The
revised plan, presented by Rutledge at the January 19 fairboard meeting,
included a Ribs Burn-off, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight and a free country
music concert on the midway. The committee planned to rebrand the Saturday
event as a free concert in an effort to sustain the event while the grandstand
repairs were completed.

“A
couple of the fairboard members encouraged us to bring a revised plan to the
January meeting. However, the board took no formal action in support of, or
against, the revised plan,” said Rutledge. “This lack of action puts the
committee in a tough position. We can’t move forward if the fairboard doesn’t
support Country Energy Fest.”

The
Country Energy Fest Committee is made up of fairboard members, businessmen and
women, and community leaders who volunteer their expertise to plan and
implement the event. The committee is legally bound by the fairboard and cannot
pursue contracts with vendors, entertainers or sponsors without board action in
support of the committee’s plan.

“We
have pushed the limits of the time needed to produce an event of this caliber,”
said Rutledge. “The January meeting was the deciding factor how, and if, we
proceeded with the festival. It takes time to secure entertainment, vendors and
sponsors – time we no longer have.”

The
delay in planning also put Country Energy Fest in a position of competition for
rib burners and food vendors, who were being courted by other events the same
weekend.

Structural
integrity of the grandstand was initially brought to light in August 2015 when
a chunk of concrete fell out of the seating area of the Northeast corner of the
facility. The structural engineer hired in December by the fairboard had not
returned a report, and no timeline had been established for repairs, at the
time of the January meeting.

The Country Energy Fest Committee extends its
appreciation to the community organizations and individuals who have supported
the festival. Your patronage is appreciated.